The Services We
Provide
Most dogs are valued by their owners and, on the whole, make a
valuable contribution to society. There are exceptions to this,
usually arising from the actions or negligence of a tiny minority
of dog owners.
Aggressive dogs, stray dogs, dog fouling and noisy dogs can all
cause problems of varying severity ranging from mild nuisance to
disease, serious injury and even death.
The Council has a role in trying to ensure that the acts or
omissions of dog owners do not adversely affect the health, safety
or enjoyment of others.
The Council has made an Order under the provisions of the Clean
Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which enables it to apply
legal controls to:
- require owners to clean up any dog fouling
- exclude dogs from certain areas
- require dogs to be put and kept on leads in certain
areas
These controls are enforced by the Council’s Environment Support
Officers, who can be contacted by telephoning (01502) 523117.
Offences against the Order are punishable by fixed penalty notice
of £80 or prosecution through the Magistrates’ Court where the
maximum fine is £1000.
Dogs on Beaches
The Dog Control Order bans dogs from certain beaches during the
summer season (i.e. between 1st May and 30th September). In
addition to this, if you take a dog on the specified beaches at
other times, you must keep it on a lead.
There are four stretches of beach affected by these controls. They
are at Corton, Lowestoft, Kessingland and Southwold.
The total length of beach affected by these controls is about 1.6
miles. The total length of coastline in the Waveney District is
about 26 miles, so there are plenty of opportunities for everybody
to enjoy our beautiful beaches, whatever their preference.
Stray Dogs
The Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act
removed the obligation on the police to accept strays delivered to
police stations by members of the public.
This meant the number of dogs notified to the council as
"strays" increased overnight from about 100 to 450 per year. The
Government allocated an additional £7000 per year to meet the
expense of this additional responsibility.
Following several weeks of intensive discussions between Suffolk
Police and Waveney District Council, new arrangements have been
implemented in respect of stray dogs found in the district.
At any time of the day or night, members of the public reporting
a stray dog may call 07500 765833 for advice on what to
do.
Dogs that have been caught and contained and notified to the
council between 08:30 hours - 21:00 hours (7 days a week including
Bank Holidays) will be collected and taken to the Council's
designated kennels.
Please note:
Callers will be asked to give full details of where/when/how
they came into possession of the stray as well as their name,
address and telephone number/name/email address.
This service is ONLY available for dogs which have been caught
and contained.
Members of the public reporting strays to this number after
21:00hrs may be asked to retain the dog until it can be collected
the next day.
If and when the owner of a stray comes forward to collect it,
they will have to pay a fee (comprising a fixed amount plus
kennelling costs calculated on a daily basis and the cost of any
veterinary treatment found necessary) BEFORE they can collect it.
Dogs not collected after 7 days become the property of the Council
and will be rehomed.
If you lose your dog, you can phone 07500 765833 and leave
details so that we can contact you if somebody reports it to us a s
a stray.
Dog owners can help to prevent their dog becoming a nuisance or
a hazard by keeping them under proper control at all times.
It is a legal requirement for all dogs to wear a collar and
identity tag whilst out in public, bearing the name and address of
the owner. A phone number is also helpful in enabling anybody
finding a stray to repatriate it with the owner without the council
having to become involved.
Found dogs
If we have received a report of a lost dog that matches the one you
have found we will tell you how it can be returned to its owner. If
we don’t have any information, we will try to make arrangements to
collect it. If we cannot collect it, we will advise you of the next
best course of action. You may be asked to take it to the Council’s
kennels yourself, or to hold on to the dog until we can arrange for
it to be collected.
Lost dogs
If we have your dog, or know where it is, we will tell you what to
do to reclaim it. If the dog is being held at the Council kennels
you must collect it within 7 days of the Council detaining it. You
will have pay a fee to the Council before you can collect it,
comprising a fixed £45 charge, in addition to kennel fees and any
fees incurred for inoculations and other veterinary treatment found
necessary. You will have to pay ALL fees due before claiming your
dog. Fees must be paid direct to the Council. You will not be able
to pay fees at the Kennels. After the seventh day, an unclaimed dog
becomes the property of the Council and we will try to re-home
it.
Fouling Legislation
The Dog Control Order makes it illegal to fail to clear up after
your dog if it fouls any land which is open to the air and to which
the public have access.
When you walk your dog, you should go equipped with the means to
clear up after it. You can dispose of bagged dog waste in any
public litterbin or your household wheelie bin.
Noisy Dogs
Barking dogs can be very annoying. We receive many complaints about
barking dogs every year.
Consultation
We would like to know what you think about these aspects of dog
control. If you would like to make a suggestion or a comment,
please do so using our
online feedback form (opens new window)
.